NPR News: 08-29-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 6PM EDT – August 29, 2025

Main Theme

This episode features concise updates on major national and international news, covering key topics such as the legal dispute over a Federal Reserve governor's dismissal, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a mass shooting in Minneapolis, a significant Supreme Court appeal regarding the Voting Rights Act, the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and holiday gas prices across the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Legal Battle: President Trump and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

Segment begins at 00:22

• President Trump Attempts to Remove Lisa Cook: Trump announced via social media his intent to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.
• Legal Standards Questioned: Removal of Fed governors is only allowed "for cause"; Cook contests that accusations against her are unproven and insufficient.
• Justice Department Argument: DOJ asserts it's up to the president to determine cause; the courts shouldn't interfere.
• Broader Implications: Critics argue this is part of Trump's effort to control the central bank; the Fed itself urges a quick resolution to clear the "cloud of uncertainty".

"Fed Governor Lisa Cook is challenging the president's decision, announced in a social media post to oust her from the central bank. By law, Fed governors can only be removed for cause." — Scott Horsley [00:37]

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Gaza War: Mounting Humanitarian Toll

Segment begins at 01:17

• Rising Death Toll: Over 63,000 deaths in the 22-month Israel-Hamas war.
• Humanitarian Crisis: Five Palestinians died of malnutrition in just the past day, highlighting critical food shortages.
• Children Bear the Brunt: Since the war began, 322 deaths attributed to malnutrition include 121 children.

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Minneapolis Mass Shooting: City Response

Segment begins at 01:17; Mayor's statement at 02:04

• Incident Overview: Two schoolchildren killed, 18 others (many children) injured during a shooting at a Catholic church.
• City Support for Families: Mayor Jacob Fry commends quick response, announces ongoing support, especially as school starts.

"In the coming week, we know there will be a lot of difficult emotions due to school starting for Minneapolis kids. And we will be there. Our safety teams will support and we'll make sure that families both are safe and that they feel safe." — Mayor Jacob Fry [02:04]

• Ongoing Medical Care: At least five children (one critical) and one adult remain hospitalized.

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Voting Rights Act: Louisiana's Supreme Court Appeal

Segment begins at 02:20

• Legal Arguments: Louisiana challenges longstanding interpretation that private parties can sue under the Voting Rights Act, arguing only the US Attorney General should have standing.
• Potential Impact: This challenge is part of a broader movement that, if successful, could undercut federal voting rights protections nationwide.
• Relevance to Redistricting: The case is linked to redistricting battles and could set precedent on voting rights litigation.

"GOP state officials in Mississippi claim those Mississippians do not have a right to sue, and only the US Attorney general does." — Hansi Lo Wang [02:37]

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Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years Later

Segment begins at 03:17

• Commemoration: The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is observed, recalling its devastation, particularly to Mississippi's Gulf coast, not just New Orleans.
• Community Still Recovering: Waveland, MS, remains largely vacant in its downtown business district even two decades later.

"When I flew over the coast in a helicopter after the hurricane, it looked like the hand of God had wiped away the coast. Utter obliteration." — Bernie Cullen [03:56]

• Local Voices: Bernie Cullen, from Waveland’s Ground Zero Museum, offers a stark portrayal of ongoing recovery efforts and loss.

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Holiday Weekend Gas Prices

Segment begins at 04:30

• National Trends: Gas prices average about $3.15/gallon, a decrease from $3.29/gallon last year.
• Regional Variations: Prices below $3/gallon expected in some states such as Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and Iowa, according to AAA and GasBuddy.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Katrina aftermath:

  "When I flew over the coast in a helicopter after the hurricane, it looked like the hand of God had wiped away the coast. Utter obliteration." — Bernie Cullen [03:56]

• On supporting Minneapolis after the shooting:

  "We will be there. Our safety teams will support and we'll make sure that families both are safe and that they feel safe." — Mayor Jacob Fry [02:04]

• On the Voting Rights Act litigation:

  "Republican officials are making this novel argument in multiple redistricting lawsuits, including one out of North Dakota, that the Supreme Court may decide to hear..." — Hansi Lo Wang [02:37]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:22 — Federal Reserve legal challenge
• 01:17 — Gaza death toll and humanitarian crisis / Mass shooting in Minneapolis
• 02:04 — Mayor Jacob Fry addresses the city’s response
• 02:20 — Hospitals update on mass shooting victims / Voting Rights Act appeal
• 03:17 — Katrina 20th anniversary coverage in Mississippi
• 04:30 — Gas price trends for the holiday weekend

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Tone & Style:
The summary mirrors NPR’s concise, authoritative delivery, focusing on factual reporting with clear context. Insights are drawn directly from the journalists, officials, and affected stakeholders featured in the newscast.

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Transcript

[Scott Carter]

Life is a mystery for those of faith or no faith. Ye Gods with Scott Carter is the podcast that makes sense of how we make sense of life. Each week we talk to celebrities, scholars and mere mortals to unearth what on earth we believe and what we don't listen to. Ye Gods with Scott Carter, part of the NPR Network, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. A federal judge heard arguments today on President Trump's effort to fire a member of the Federal Reserve's governing board. But as NPR's Scott Horsley reports, the judge issued no ruling.

[Scott Horsley]

Fed Governor Lisa Cook is challenging the president's decision, announced in a social media post to oust her from the central bank. By law, Fed governors can only be removed for cause. Cook says unproven claims from a Trump loyalist that she made false statements on a mortgage application don't meet that standard. A Justice Department lawyer disagreed, arguing it's up to the president to decide what's a fireable offense and that judges can't second guess that. Trump has been unusually critical of the Fed for not lowering interest. Critics say the attack on Cook is simply a way for Trump to exert more control over the central bank. The Fed says it will abide by any decision, but urged the court to act quickly to remove the cloud of uncertainty. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has passed 63,000 in the 22 month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This as Palestinians face the start of Israel's expanded offensive in Gaza City. The ministry says five people died from malnutrition related causes the past day, raising the death toll to 322, including 121 children since the war began. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry today praised staff from several city departments for their quick and ongoing response to the mass shooting at a Catholic church this week that left two school children dead and 18 other people, many of them children, injured. And he says personnel will be on hand next week to help children in the city as school gets underway on Tuesday.

[Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry]

In the coming week, we know there will be a lot of diffic emotions due to school starting for Minneapolis kids. And we will be there. Our safety teams will support and we'll make sure that families both are safe and that they feel safe.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Hennepin Healthcare officials say at least five children, one in critical condition and one adult remain hospitalized. Louisiana is appealing a redistricting case to the Supreme Court with a novel argument that could undermine the federal Voting Rights Act NPR's Hansi Lo Wang has more.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

For decades, Voting Rights act protections against racial discrimination have been mainly enforced through lawsuits filed by private individuals and groups. They include a group of black Mississippians who challenged legislative maps drawn by the state's Republican controlled legislature. Those Mississippians argued the maps dilute the collective voting power of black voters. A three judge court agreed. But in a Supreme Court filing, GOP state officials in Mississippi claim those Mississippians do not have a right to sue, and only the US Attorney general does. Republican officials are making this novel argument in multiple redistricting lawsuits, including one out of North Dakota, that the Supreme Court may decide to hear after a Louisiana case about whether Voting Rights act protections and redistricting are constitutional. Hansi Le Wang, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Today marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the northern Gulf coast, killing nearly 1,400 people. And while much of the focus is on New Orleans, where federal levies failed and flooded the city, the hurricane also decimated the Mississippi Gulf coast, where it made landfall. NPR's Debbie Elliott has more.

[Debbie Elliott]

Katrina slammed ashore in Waveland, Mississippi, with a three story storm surge. Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barber says the state's entire 70 mile coastline was devastated.

[Bernie Cullen]

When I flew over the coast in a helicopter after the hurricane, it looked like the hand of God had wiped away the coast. Utter obliteration.

[Debbie Elliott]

Waveland is still trying to come back 20 years later, says Bernie Cullen with the city's aptly named Ground Zero Museum, noting that the downtown business district is still mostly empty.

[Jeanine Herbst]

That sense of Main Street USA is missing.

[Debbie Elliott]

Debbie Elliot, NPR News, Waveland, Mississippi.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Drivers will get a break at the gas station this holiday weekend. Although gas prices have edged up slightly over the past few days, they are expected to average around $3.15 a gallon, according to the app GasBuddy. That's down from $3.29 a gallon this time last year. And AAA says people in some parts of the country will find prices below $3 a gallon, including Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and Iowa. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Scott Carter]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.